This study shows the existence of hikikomori in Spain. Its difficult detection and treatment highlights the need for specialized domiciliary teams. The high comorbidity leads us to conclude that it may not be a new diagnosis, but rather a severe syndrome associated with multiple mental illnesses. Primary hikikomori also exist, but less commonly. Future cross-national studies are needed in order to describe its definition and psychopathology.

Social withdrawal is a new mental health problem increasingly common, present in different cultures, whose psychopathology and treatment is not yet established. This study aims to determine the socio-demographic and clinical features and possible clinical subtypes that predict the 12-month outcomes of cases with hikikomori syndrome, a severe form of social withdrawal. Socio-demographic and clinical data at baseline were analysed as well as data obtained for 12 months after at-home treatment in 190 cases. The inclusion criteria were: spending all time at home, avoiding social situations and relationships, significant deterioration due to social isolation, with a minimum duration of 6 months. Six major diagnostic groups were identified: affective, anxiety, psychotic, drug use, personality and other Axis I disorders. The anxiety-affective subgroup demonstrated lower clinical severity, but worse evolution. Less than half of the cases were available for medical follow-up at 12-months. Subjects undergoing intensive treatment had a higher medical follow-up rate and better social networks at 12-months. Therefore, our findings provide data to reach consensus on the specific characteristics of social isolation hikikomori syndrome. The analysis demonstrated the fragility and tendency to relapse and have disengagement, particularly relevant in the anxiety-affective subgroup, suggesting that intensive treatments are more effective.

Background: Family may play an important role in the origin, maintenance, and treatment of people with social withdrawal. The aim of this study is to analyze family factors related to social withdrawal syndrome. Methods: Socio-demographic, clinical, and family data, including family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and history of family abuse were analyzed in 190 cases of social withdrawal with a minimum duration of 6 months that started an at-home treatment program. Data were analyzed at baseline and at 12 months. Results: In 36 cases (18%) neither the patient nor the family allowed at home evaluation and treatment by the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment (CRHT) team. Patients had high rates of dysfunctional family dynamics (n = 115, 61.5%), and family psychiatric history (n = 113, 59.3%), especially maternal affective (n = 22, 42.9%), and anxiety disorders (n = 11 20.4%). There was a non-negligible percentage of family maltreatment in childhood (n = 35, 20.7%) and single-parent families (n = 66, 37.8%). Most of the cases lived with their families (n = 135, 86%), had higher family collaboration in the therapeutic plan (n = 97, 51.9%) and families were the ones to detect patient isolation and call for help (n = 140, 73.7%). Higher social withdrawal severity (as defined by at least one of: early age of onset, no family collaboration, lack of insight, higher CGSI score, and higher Zarit score), was associated with family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and family abuse history. All of these predictive variables were highly correlated one to each other. Conclusions: There is a high frequency of family psychiatric history, dysfunctional family dynamics, and traumatic events in childhood (family maltreatment), and these factors are closely interrelated, highlighting the potential role of family in the development and maintenance of social withdrawal.

We examine whether patient variables (geographic origin, gender, Spanish language proficiency) and subjective clinician aspects in emergency department psychiatric encounters (diagnostic certainty, clinician’s comfort level with patient) are associated with diagnosis and the use of coercive measures. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, we recorded 467 visits (400 foreign-born and 67 native-born patients) in hospital psychiatry emergency rooms (ERs) in Barcelona between 2007 and 2015. We first assessed the association of patient variables and subjective clinician aspects of psychiatric encounters with service use outcomes and with mental illness diagnosis. Fitted logistic models predicted the likelihood of service use outcomes and estimated the propensity of receiving each diagnosis. The null model evaluated the role of patient’s geographical origin, while the full model evaluated the additional roles of patient’s gender and language, the clinician’s assessment of the influence of culture in diagnosis, and clinician comfort with two outcomes: patient’s diagnosis and use of coercive measures in the ER. Women were less likely to receive coercive measures or intramuscular medications compared to men. Significant ethnic/racial and gender differences were found in receiving certain diagnoses. Additionally, a patient’s lower Spanish proficiency was correlated with a higher probability of receiving a psychosis diagnosis. The clinician’s level of diagnostic certainty was also positively correlated with increasing clinician-reported comfort with patient. Overall, ethnic factors and the subjective aspects of psychiatric encounters were found to influence diagnosis and the use of coercive measures. Cultural competency programs and interpreter services within psychiatric ER settings should thus be required.